Sunday, June 29, 2014

Up the staircase | Ramadhan training

Bismillah.

Allah...Allah...Allah....I am exhausted. It's Saturday, it's the eve of Ramadhan, here I am in my hometown after hours and hours of driving since 6.30 a.m. - driving around to sort out unfinished business regarding my Penang home refurbishment. It's tiring and stressful but it's a sweet problem, no doubt, Alhamdulillah. Must think of the desired outcome, that is the niyyat - to please my family and our would-be guests, inshaAllah - hoping that if we're able to do this, it's counted as things that could garner Allah's mercy, bi-iznillah.

Speaking of refurbishing work, thank god the hotel that we've just checked in, has just been upgraded and we are among the first batch of customers to enjoy its new look, so chic. We might even be the room's first occupant, Alhamdulillah indeed.

I was about to sit down when a call came in from, oh my god, Spain, just in time when this weary soul needed some boost. Thanks Aunt S! You are much appreciated! Because of you, I looked for whatever little remaining energy to craft this posting.

I just love this artwork in the room. It's a picture of a staircase. It reminds me of our struggle, it's like Ramadhan being a staircase for us to climb up and get closer to Allah. We might get tired every now and then as we embrace this sacred month, but luckily, as in every staircase, there's a landing area where we could stop and take a breather before climbing further.

Aunt S asked for some practice for this Ramadhan. That request from her, truly humbled me for I am no ustazah. I am a student myself. I am a struggling Muslim. But because she asked for it, I had to look around and I found this zikir posted on our much loved Habib Ali Zainal Abidin's website. So let us all lean on it, reflect and recite it. It reminds us of the only one thing that matters - that is Allah's forgiveness. We may have stumbled and fell and bruised, but it's okay, Ramadhan is here so we can pull ourselves up and push ourselves a little harder, forward and upward, towards our Creator, Allah azza wa jala, in whose hand lies mercy and rahmah, His hands, not Mr A, not Mrs B, not Miss C. It all goes back to Allah the Most Magnificent God. Allahu Akbar!

Lisan al-Din Writer & Editor

This blog was launched in April 2009, in honor of Shaykh Ahmad ibn Mustafa al-Alawi (1869-1934) who founded and directed a weekly publication called 'Lisan al-Din' (Language of Faith) in 1912. Shaykh Ahmad al-Alawi, a renowned Algerian Sufi Saint of the 20th century was the founder of the Darqawiya Alawiya order - a branch of the Shadhilli Tariqah. May this blog, its readers and its writer benefit from the grace and blessings of Shaykh Ahmad al-Alawi, and all the other shuyukh, past and present, whose names we mention herein. May God's blessings be upon our master Muhammad and upon his family and companions. Ameen.

LA HAWLA WALA QUWWATA ILLAH BILLAH 'ALIYIL 'AZIMThere is no power and no strength save with Allah, the High, the Great